Menu-card holder



Dec. 6, 1924.

N. M. STONE MENU cum HOLDER Filed April 28. 1924 Patented Dec. 16, 1924.

UNITED STATES NATHAN M. STONE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

MENU-CARD HOLDER.

Application filed. April 28, 1924. Serial No. 709,405.

To rzZZ whom it may concern..-

Be it known that I, NATHAN M. STONE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Chicago, (look County, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Menu-Card Holders, of which the following is declared to be a full. clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to menu card holders and its principal objectis to provide an attractive device for holding one or more menu cards, and at the same time displaying attractive advertisements or other display matter. Another object is to provide a holder having two card holding panels or leaves operating. under the influence of gravity, to grip the card between them. Another object is to provide a menu card holder having card gripping panels composed of frames, and glass panels, on both sides, through which are displayed advertisements or other display or printed matter. To such ends this invention consists in the several novel features hereinafter fully set forth and claimed.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawing. in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a menu card holder embodying a simple form of the present invention; Fig. 2 is an end view thereof, partly broken out; Fig. 8 is a per spective view of a fragment of the base portion, and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a fragment of one of the panel frames.

Referring to said drawing, which illus trates one embodiment of the invention, the reference characters 5. 5 designate two similar, companion panels or leaves that normally stand side by side and are pressed together under the influence of gravity. Each panel 5 is preferably formed of a channel like frame which comprises a strip 6 bent up into the top, bottom and end parts. the flanges of the strip being cut to form mitred corners as shown. One end of the strip is formed with a hole 7 and the other end is formed with a tongue 8 which is inserted through the hole and bent down on the outside to lock the ends of the frame together. In each frame are secured display cards 9 which are covered with glass pieces 10. Said display cards are preferably located on both sides of each panel.

Below the panels is a base member 11, which supports the panels in upright position, pressing against each other, or against an interposed card, but which permits the panels to be swung apart, readily, for the insertion of a card or to expose the display cards on the adjacent sides of the panels.

The base member comprises two pairs of legs 12, 12, those of each pair being hinged upon a pin 13. The legs 14L, of each pair are formed with eyes 15 through which the pin 13, extends and said rod is headed at its ends beyond the ears. The legs 14- extend transversely of the panels and are secured thereto by spot welding, soldering or otherwise fastening them thereto and said legs are long enough to afford a wide base for the device. Their outer ends are curled or bent around to form rounded end portions or feet 16.

hen stood upon a table or other horizontal support the weight of the panels (which is considerably greater than that of the legs) acts to spread the legs of each pair apart to their greatest extent, and until the panels or leaves come together or against an interposed card A, in which case the panels or leaves frictionally grip the card A between them from top to bottom and side to side, although it may be removed by pulling upon it with sufficient force to overcome the friction, or by spreading the panels apart and withdrawing it. hen the panels are spread apart they swing on the pin 13 as a centre and thereby raise the pin and swing the extreme ends of the legs together as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. hen released, the weight of the panels, being applied to the ends of the legs that rest on the table or other support, tends to spread the legs apart, because of their pivotal connection with each other, thereby swinging together the panels upon the pin as a fulcrum.

The panels or leaves act to hold the menu card in a flat condition and they cover and protect the greater portion thereof, although permitting the free withdrawal thereof without the necessity of swinging the panels or leaves apart. A card may also be inserted between the panels by forcing it in between them. The panels may however be spread apart beyond an angle of ninety degrees to the vertical, in which case they will overhang the legs 14 sufficiently to remain in an open position, thereby displaying the inner display cards to the patrons.

More or less variation of the exact details llO of construction is possible without departing from the spirit of this invention; I desire, therefore, not to limit myself to the exact form of the construction shown. and described, but intend, in the following claims,

to point out all of the invention disclosedhereln.

I claim as new, anddesireto secure by Letters Patent:

1.. A menu card holder comprising a base having two widely spreadingpairs of legs and a pin hingedly connecting the legs of each pair,.two. relatively heavy panels, each one supported on and rigidly secured to a leg 01' each pair of legs, with one side of eachpanel extending approximately through the hinge axis of the pin, and both panels co-operating under the influence of gravity to spread apartthe legs of each pair and thereby impinge the panels bodily against each other or bodily against an interposed card. I

2. A menu card holder comprising a base having two hinged together, widely spreading base members, and two relatively heavy card gripping, panels, one supported on and rigidly secured to each base member, with one side face thereof extending approximately through the hinge of the base, Whereby said sides of the panels are normally held in close contact, said panels acting under the influence of gravity to swing towards each other, and display cards secured on both sides of both panels.

NATH. M. STONE. 

